Discectomy kits with an obturator, guard cannula

Abstract

Discectomy kits with obturator, guard cannulas are provided. The kits have a safe and efficient cutting heads for removing a target tissue from a subject during a surgical procedure are provided, the cutting heads composing a part of systems that address several problems, including clogging of state-of-the-art systems during removal of such tissue, for example. The target tissue can include any tissue that is accessible through a small surgical opening, for example, a joint tissue such as a meniscus or an intervertebral tissue, such as a nucleus pulposus. The devices can be referred to as orthopedic tissue removal devices having cutting heads associated with vacuum systems, making the systems useful in several procedures, including X-LIF (lateral approach to an intervertebral fusions) procedures, T-LIF (transforaminal approach to intervertebral fusions) procedures, P-LIF (posterior approach to intervertebral fusions), and a percutaneous, transforaminal approach (Kambin triangle access).

We claim: 
     
       1. A tissue removal device, comprising:
 a handle having a proximal end and a distal end; 
 a vacuum connection at the proximal end of the handle; 
 a shaft extending distally from the distal end of the handle, the shaft having an inner lumen and defining a longitudinal axis, an exterior side surface of the shaft forming an exterior of the device; and 
 an opening at a distal end of the shaft, a perimeter of the opening circumscribing the inner lumen and forming a cutting surface adapted for cutting tissue, the cutting surface having one or more blade tips that point back towards the inner lumen at an angle of greater than 90 degrees from a central axis of the inner lumen; 
 wherein a base of a blade tip of the one or more blade tips that point back towards the inner lumen is disposed on a same side of the central axis of the inner lumen as the blade tip; 
 wherein the perimeter of the opening is stationary relative to the shaft; 
 wherein a cross-sectional area of the opening is less than a cross-sectional area of the inner lumen; and 
 wherein the inner lumen is in fluid communication with the vacuum connection. 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the opening is defined by one or more projections that extend radially-inward from the exterior side surface of the shaft. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the cutting surface projects radially-inward from the exterior side surface of the shaft. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the cutting surface partially blocks a distal entrance into the lumen. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 4 , wherein the portion of the cutting surface comprises a talon. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the cutting surface comprises a forward cutting surface and a backward cutting surface. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to continuously suction out excised tissue. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 1 , wherein a plane approximating the arrangement of the cutting surface is obliquely angled relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 1 , wherein a plane approximating the arrangement of the cutting surface is disposed at an angle in the range of 45 degrees to 90 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the cross-sectional area of the opening is less than the cross-sectional area of the inner lumen at any location along the inner lumen. 
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft is bent at a location proximal to the opening. 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 11 , wherein the shaft is bent at an angle in the range of more than 0 degrees to 75 degrees. 
     
     
       13. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a tissue collection reservoir in communication with the lumen of the shaft. 
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft is rigid. 
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the handle is formed from plastic. 
     
     
       16. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft is metallic. 
     
     
       17. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the very distal end of the device is substantially blunt. 
     
     
       18. The device of  claim 1 , wherein opposed edges of the blade tip converge at a single point. 
     
     
       19. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more blade tips are configured to remain substantially stationary during a forward stroke through tissue. 
     
     
       20. A tissue removal device, comprising:
 a handle having a proximal end and a distal end; 
 a vacuum connection at the proximal end of the handle; 
 a shaft extending distally from the distal end of the handle, the shaft having an inner lumen and defining a longitudinal axis, an exterior side surface of the shaft forming an exterior of the device; 
 an opening at a distal end of the shaft, a perimeter of the opening having a plurality of teeth positioned around a distal edge thereof adapted for cutting tissue, each of the plurality of teeth tapering distally from a base to a tip along an axis extending from a proximal end of the shaft to the distal end of the shaft; and 
 a blade tip that points back towards the inner lumen at an angle of greater than 90 degrees from a central axis of the inner lumen, a base of a blade tip being disposed on a same side of the central axis of the inner lumen as the blade tip; 
 wherein the perimeter of the opening is stationary relative to the shaft, and 
 wherein the inner lumen is in fluid communication with the vacuum connection.